Oil Change After 11,800 Miles

[rcbob]

My Honda Accord 2008 Ex-L, 4 cyl. Sedan's computer says my oil life is at 15% and ready to change. .
After 14 months and 11,873 miles my Accord's computer says to change the oil! It seems kind of long.
I use 5W20 per Honda's instructions but, I use synthetic oil

Last oil change at 15% Oil life 26,711 miles, Nov. 19, 2010.
Now oil change at 15% Oil life 38,711 miles, May 02, 2012.

Anybody have similar experience?

 

[addyguy]

UOA?

 

[MaximusD]

Honda motors are very easy on oil, esp the 4 banger. I'm assuming mostly highway miles. I wouldn't worry, engines are just about bullet proof.

 

[LeakySeals]

14 months + 12k = city car. I'd change it every 7k-12 months, no more

 

[Oregoonian]

It seems to me....that you should be delighted that your 4-cyl Honda....is doing 12K OCI's.

What oil and filter are you using?

Keep using it...and sleep well. This oil and engine combination.... wlll give you many years of trouble free driving.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Honda's K-series 4-cylinders can go pretty long on oil. They run well on just about anything you put in them. 12,000 miles seems long, but still.

What oil is in it now (the synthetic 5W-20 you are using), and how black is it on the dipstick? I know color doesn't indicate much, but I'm just curious.

 

[JHZR2]

I see no issue, especially with a good syn.

Our integra was super easy on oil back in 94 (7500 mi OCI was perfect and they only recommended a filter change every other time).

Think about how much better things have gotten even since 94!

 

[raytseng]

there are some maintenance charts for non-US owners for honda motors where oil change interval is 12,500miles. So the results you got are in-line with that.

At the same time though, there is also a recommendation for time of 1year maintenance, so you may want to just go by that. Makes things easier to do the maintenance every July for example.

 

[circuitsmith]

I wouldn't run oil more than a year regardless...

 

[Sayjac]

I'm assuming you do a lot of highway miles. I get ~7-7.5k, 5-10%MM for a year oci on a 3.0L Accord, but I do a mix of shorter trips and the car sits some.

I don't see any issue with your oci except perhaps one. As mentioned, Honda's recommended max oci time is one year regardless if 0-15% MM has been reached. While under warranty I'd heed that. After that, your call.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: circuitsmith
I wouldn't run oil more than a year regardless...


Says who? I have without any issues or negative results in UOA. Have done so for years.

It's all about use profile.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: circuitsmith
I wouldn't run oil more than a year regardless...


Says who? I have without any issues or negative results in UOA. Have done so for years.

It's all about use profile.


Agreed, there seems to be some confusion about that. Many keep saying highway, I saw barely 10k a year as a lot of cold starts or city use (severe).

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I have the same, albeit 3-years-older version of the 2.4L in my CR-V. Blackstone told me 12k was just fine on 5w20 Full Synthetic and I sent that sample in @ 10k. They are easy on oil and mine doesn't burn a drop after 150k.

 

[Colt]

Originally Posted By: circuitsmith
I wouldn't run oil more than a year regardless...

I wouldn't either.
Amsoil recommends mileage or one year.
Toyota 5K or 6 months on dino and 10K or 12 months on synthetic.

 

[rcbob]

I don't have a used oil analysis but I am considering it. Will share if I do.
This Honda engine is a 16 Valve, iVTEC, 4 cylinder, 190HP. Never hand a Honda before but I'm very happy with it.
All my previous cars had their oil changed at 3,000 miles. That's a lot of oil changes since I'm 68 yrs young!

My one and only previous oil change to this car was with Wal-Mart's synthetic brand. Now I will use Advanced Auto Parts' synthetic.
Aren't al synthetic the same?

 

[Jeff_in_VABch]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
... and how black is it on the dipstick? I know color doesn't indicate much, but I'm just curious.


Probably looks like tar.

Have to take a cold chisel to it at some point.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: rcbob
I don't have a used oil analysis but I am considering it. Will share if I do.
This Honda engine is a 16 Valve, iVTEC, 4 cylinder, 190HP. Never hand a Honda before but I'm very happy with it.
All my previous cars had their oil changed at 3,000 miles. That's a lot of oil changes since I'm 68 yrs young!

My one and only previous oil change to this car was with Wal-Mart's synthetic brand. Now I will use Advanced Auto Parts' synthetic.
Aren't al synthetic the same?



No all synthetics are not the same.

Now that you mention the house brand oils, i'm very interested in a used oil analysis (Used Oil Analysis) after such mileage.

 

[antiqueshell]

While the one year rule is certainly easy to remember it does not mean that conventional oil cannot be run effectively and without issue for longer. I'd say if your driving is not composed of stop and go city traffic you can go easily for 18 months or so without any ill effects.

 

[raytseng]

So the answer to the "says who?" is most car manufacturers and the oil makers. heck, even Tesla with no oil or ICE wants to see you every year for a diagnostics check.

As with half the threads here, the decision boils down to "I'm smarter then the designers" who are giving overly conservative estimates.

So take from that what you will, but an army of industry folk, "that's who" took the cookie from the cookie jar.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: MaximusD
Honda motors are very easy on oil, esp the 4 banger. ... I wouldn't worry, engines are just about bullet proof.


Not trying to disagree, but someone (Pablo, I think) mentioned Honda engines are "very hard" on oil. I don't know, but it would not surprise me if the Hondas are really hard on oil. Anyone have something on this topic?